I’ve always been interested in trying the game, but didn’t know anyone who could DM. I became really interested in playing a few months ago, and decided, fuck it, I’ll do it myself. I just ran Dragons of Stormwreck Isle last night with a few friends, all of us completely brand new to D&D. I hit one snag where a player was prying for more information about Varnoth’s history. They rolled really well, and Varnoth isn’t necessarily guarded about her past, but I had NOTHING more to give them. The module had no more history, and I don’t know the world well, so just trying to make up some lore on my feet was really difficult. I tried to give more jargon, didn’t sound great, and just ended up making her tell the player that there wasn’t much more to say, and that she’d moved on from that time in her life. This stuck out to me as a failure on my part, but after the session, I told the player about how it looked from my end and they didn’t seem to have noticed that I was fumbling. They just assumed I had everything out in front of me. So I guess the improv was decent enough, and least for my completely inexperienced players. Anyone have tips on what to do when a player wants more information that an NPC should know, but it isn’t something you’d prepared for?
I’ll have to learn the rules a little better (the first encounter with the zombies featured 5 minutes of me leafing through the PHB because I ran into an important mechanic I didn’t quite understand), and I should probably prep the story a little better too, but I’m beyond pleased at how successful the session was. Everyone had a great time and wants to keep playing. It was a ton of fun improvising and creating a fun goofy story together with my buds. Just very happy to have this new fun creative thing to do with my friends and want to share that joy. I’d really like to create my own stories eventually, but it does seem very daunting.
Anyway, thanks so much for all of your help! Reading through posts in this community has been invaluable to learning how to play and DM.
I think it’s always best to look at the modules as guidelines, especially anything from Wizards. Like others have said, the writers can never account for your players.
When it comes to making stuff up on the spot, I have two suggests that might help:
- Give yourself a moment to think. Taking a minute to formulate will never ruin anyone’s immersion. I do a podcast, and we edit out the space I give myself to come up with a satisfying answer. Even the professionals take a beat.
- Take notes. You’ll never know enough about your NPCs, and you’ll always forget some detail you’ve given them. If you take a note, you can come back to the thing you made up and build on it in the future. That way, the line blurs between what you know (what the module tells you) and what you make up.
Extra advice: Remember that you stepped up to facilitate. That means your players already appreciate the work you’re putting in (or at least they should).
Keep it up!
I do think I was trying to speed through improv a bit due to nerves / trying to keep it smooth. Thanks so much for the advice!
You’re welcome! Getting over the nerves will just take time. I’ve been DMing for about 10 years, and I still feel the impulse to make something amazing immediately. If you’re players ever complain, just tell them they can run it. They’ll change their tune real quick.
You’ll never be able to prepare for all the things your players might ask an NPC. They could latch onto any random NPC, including ones that were meant to be just background, and decide they’re a main character now. You’re going to have to make stuff up on the spot, and you should lean into it. Lots of favorite NPCs are made that way.
It sounds like you’re doing a great job. DMing can be a lot of work and stress, but it’s worth it. Just remember that your fun is just as important as that of everyone else at the table.
